Container with integrated dispensing chute

ABSTRACT

A laundry basket incorporates a feature that allows an individual to deposit clothing directly from the basket into a washing machine, such as a front-loading washing machine, via a molded chute. The chute is integrated into the basket and is the correct size to allow it to be inserted into the typically round opening in the front of the appliance, hooked over the edge by the lip/handle, and the opposite end lifted up to deposit the clothing directly into the appliance with very little effort.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/524,909, filed Aug. 18, 2011, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to storage/laundry containers and, more particularly, to a container having an integrated dispensing chute to ease delivery of items out of the container.

Currently, due to their shape, laundry baskets need to be placed on the floor or a surface immediately in front of the washing machine or clothes dryer.

The clothing articles must then be lifted up into the machine. This is an uncomfortable process for some individuals. None of the current laundry basket shapes, such as rectangular, square and round, of available products are particularly well suited to the loading and unloading process.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved laundry basket having a shape that facilitates loading and unloading clothing articles from washing machines and clothes dryers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a laundry basket comprises a base member; interconnected side members extending from the base member; and a dispensing chute formed in at least a portion of one of the side members.

In another aspect of the present invention, a laundry basket comprises a base member; interconnected side members extending from the base member; a dispensing chute formed in at least a portion of one of the side members; a handle formed in one of the side members opposite the dispensing chute; and a dispensing chute hook extending from the dispensing chute, the dispensing chute hook adapted to support at least one side of the laundry basket from an opening of an appliance.

In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method for transferring clothing into a laundry appliance comprises placing the clothing into a laundry basket, the laundry basket having a dispensing chute formed in at least a portion of one side member of the laundry basket; resting a dispensing chute hook on an opening of the laundry appliance; and lifting an end opposite the dispensing chute to direct the clothing down the dispensing chute and into the laundry appliance.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laundry basket according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the laundry basket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the laundry basket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the laundry basket of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a back view of the laundry basket of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a laundry basket incorporating a feature that allows an individual to deposit clothing directly from the basket into a washing machine, such as a front-loading washing machine, via a molded chute. The chute is integrated into the basket and is the correct size to allow it to be inserted into the typically round opening in the front of the appliance, hooked over the edge by the lip/handle, and the opposite end lifted up to deposit the clothing directly into the appliance with very little effort.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6, a laundry basket 10 may include a base member 26 with interconnected side members 24 extending from the base member 26 to form the basket 10 with an open top. A plurality of ventilation cutouts 22 may be optionally disposed in one or more side members 24. A container rim 12 is disposed about the open top of the basket 10. One or more handles 14 may be formed in the basket 10. Typically the handles 14 can be disposed at or near the container rim 12 with a handle cutout 16 formed below the handle 14 allow the user to wrap their hand around the handle 14.

A dispensing chute 18 may replace all or a portion of one side member 24 of the basket 10. While the side members 24 may extend from the base member 26 with an angle from about 90 to about 120 degrees, the dispensing chute 18 may extend from the base member 26 at an angle from about 120 to about 150 degrees, for example. In some embodiments, the dispensing chute 18 may form the entire side member 24 while, in other embodiments, the dispensing chute 18 may replace a portion of one of the side members 24. The dispensing chute 18 may have a width from about 10 to about 30 inches. Typically, the dispensing chute 18 may have a width smaller than an opening to a front loading washing machine.

A dispensing chute hook 20 may be formed from the container rim 12 along the leading edge of the dispensing chute 18. The dispensing chute hook 20 may engage an opening of a front loading washing machine (not shown), allowing a user to place the dispensing chute hook 20 on the opening of the washing machine and lift the handle opposite the dispensing chute 18 to direct clothes in the basket 10 into the washing machine. Because the dispensing chute hook 20 is resting on the opening of the washing machine, the user does not have to lift the entire weight of the clothes and the basket to direct the clothes into the washing machine.

Typically, at least one handle 14 is formed in the basket 10 opposite the dispensing chute 18. In some embodiments of the present invention, the basket 10 may include additional handles. For example, handles may be disposed on the side members 24 that are adjacent to the dispensing chute 18.

While the drawings show a rectangular basket with the chute, baskets of various sizes and shapes may be modified to provide a basket having a chute. In some embodiments, the chute could be designed as a standalone device for semi-permanent application to laundry appliances.

To use the laundry basket 10, a user would approach the washing machine with the basket having clothes therein. The user would open the door of the appliance and place the lip 20 of the dispensing chute 18 on the edge of the appliance's opening. The user would then lift the opposite end of the basket up with the handle 14 opposite the dispensing chute 18, tilting the basket at an angle sufficient to overcome friction and dispense the full load of clothing articles directly into the appliance with little effort.

The basket 10 could be molded as a one-piece injection molded part. This would require little, if any, additional raw material over the current designs and could be manufactured with existing equipment. In some embodiments, the basket can be constructed from materials other than plastic, such as wood, metal, composite or the like.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A laundry basket comprising: a base member; interconnected side members extending from the base member; and a dispensing chute formed in at least a portion of one of the side members.
 2. The laundry basket of claim 1, further comprising a handle formed in one of the side members opposite the dispensing chute.
 3. The laundry basket of claim 1, further comprising a dispensing chute hook extending from the dispensing chute, the dispensing chute hook adapted to support at least one side of the laundry basket from an opening of an appliance.
 4. The laundry basket of claim 1, further comprising a container rim formed along an outer periphery of the side members.
 5. The laundry basket of claim 1, further comprising ventilation cutouts formed in the side members.
 6. A laundry basket comprising: a base member; interconnected side members extending from the base member; a dispensing chute formed in at least a portion of one of the side members; a handle formed in one of the side members opposite the dispensing chute; and a dispensing chute hook extending from the dispensing chute, the dispensing chute hook adapted to support at least one side of the laundry basket from an opening of an appliance.
 7. The laundry basket of claim 6, further comprising a container rim formed along an outer periphery of the side members.
 8. The laundry basket of claim 6, further comprising ventilation cutouts formed in the side members.
 9. A method for transferring clothing into a laundry appliance, comprising: placing the clothing into a laundry basket, the laundry basket having a dispensing chute formed in at least a portion of one side member of the laundry basket; resting a dispensing chute hook on an opening of the laundry appliance; and lifting an end opposite the dispensing chute to direct the clothing down the dispensing chute and into the laundry appliance.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising grasping a handle located on the end opposite the dispensing chute to lift the end opposite the dispensing chute. 